Hotmail used to be a major email service provider in the early days of the World Wide Web with millions of users. Much like other online services of its age, it was eventually acquired by a major tech company and transformed into something new.
If you happen to own an @hotmail.com email address, you might be confused about the whole situation considering that Hotmail doesn’t exist in its original form anymore. Luckily, you can still use your address. Hence, here’s how to log on to Hotmail.
What Is Hotmail?
First and foremost, it is important to understand what Hotmail is and what came before it. Prior to Hotmail’s launch in 1996, email could only be accessed from special devices that had appropriate software installed on them. Alternatively, you could use an Internet Service Provider or ISP to access your email.
Thus, Hotmail (and its competitor RocketMail) was one of the first free and public email service providers that was accessible from any web browser. This was nothing like what came before it. In the early 2000s, Hotmail had millions of email addresses registered with the ending @hotmail.com.
However, around 2011, Hotmail was replaced by Outlook.com, Microsoft’s personal information management application that provided services ranging from email, contacts, calendar, and other task services. Now, Hotmail redirects to Outlook.com which still confuses many users.
How Can You Log on To Hotmail?
Because Hotmail is now Outlook.com, you will need to log on to Hotmail account accordingly. One way to do this is by going to Outlook.com and using your credentials to log on there. Alternatively, you can try logging on using your Live or MSN email account.
On the Outlook.com website, select the “Sign In” option and enter your email address or phone number. Then, select “Next” and enter your password before selecting “Sign In”. Note that your password will be the same for your Microsoft account as it was for your Hotmail account.
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If you still can’t log on to Hotmail account, there are some things you should check that may help you solve the problem:
• Check the Basics:
Is your Caps Lock turned off (or on) when entering your password? Is your email address spelled correctly? Has your account been inactive for more than 365 days? (To keep your account active, you need to sign in at least once every 365 days.)
• Check the Service Status:
If you checked the above and still have troubles logging on, check the service status of Outlook.com. If the status isn’t green, you will need to wait until the service is running normally and then try logging on again.
• Reset Your Password:
Another option is to reset your password. Do this either if you forgot it or if nothing else is working. Choose the option to reset your password and follow the steps.
• Other Situations:
There might be some other reasons why you can’t log on to your Hotmail account. Perhaps, your account is blocked. If this is the case, you will need to follow the steps Microsoft suggests for unblocking your account. Another reason could be that you are traveling and Microsoft has detected an unusual location from you. If this is the case, follow the instructions Microsoft provides for such situations.
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Best Practices for Using Outlook.com
Last but not least, now that you are using Outlook.com to access your @hotmail.com email address, it’s a good idea to get acquainted with the way the service works. Hence, here are some best practices for using Outlook.com:
• Understand the Layout:
Outlook.com is quite user-friendly which is why it is easy to understand how its layout works. The Navigation Pane is on the left and the Reading Pane is on the right. In Conversation view, new messages appear in blue. On the far right, you can also open the To-Do Bar.
• Organize the Folders:
There are different folders you can use for your emails. The Inbox folder is where you will receive all your emails. You can set up a separate reference folder right under your Inbox one for the emails you need to get back to or reference at some point. You can also set up different folders for professional or personal purposes among others.
• Set the Rules:
Outlook.com provides you with all the necessary features to filter the emails you receive and to focus your attention on the most important ones. This is when you can set the Rules. This feature allows you to customize certain functions to your own liking, including Automatic Replies, To: Me, Meeting Requests Sent to Inbox, Defer Sent Items, and Contact Groups.
• Utilize the To-Do Bar:
As mentioned earlier, the To-Do Bar is an essential element of the Outlook.com interface. This feature shows you a calendar with upcoming appointments, tasks, and so on. For instance, you can see flagged messages and contacts, spontaneous tasks, etc. Spend some time exploring this feature to understand how the To-Do Bar works and utilize it in your own way.
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• Customize the Notifications:
If you are someone who receives many emails, you might be distracted by constant notifications. This is why it’s a good idea to customize the Notifications feature to make it work the way you want it to.
• Work with Categories:
Another valuable feature is the Categories one. The three main categories are Project, Topic, and Location or Activity. While this feature isn’t required for a good experience with Outlook.com, it can still be quite useful for organizing your interface.
• Discover Other Features:
Obviously, there are other features you can use in Outlook.com that are not required but can be quite helpful if used correctly. For instance, Quick Steps is a feature that allows you to perform multiple actions in a single click.
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Conclusion
Even though Hotmail no longer exists in its original form, its legacy has continued as Outlook.com. Thus, if you have an @hotmail.com email address, you can still use it to access your past emails and to send and receive new ones. Just follow the steps in this article to help you log on to your Hotmail account and continue using it as before.
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